Aussies reach final as Blackwell shines with half-century

GROS ISLET, St. Lucia, CMC – Captain Alex Blackwell stroked a fluent half-century as Australia overpowered India by seven wickets to reach the final of the World Twenty20 Championship yesterday.

Asked to bowl first, Australia restricted India to a measly 119 for five off their 20 overs and then eased to 123 for three with seven balls to spare, with the right-handed Blackwell scoring 61.

It was her 74-run, second wicket stand off 60 balls with opener Shelley Nitschke that put the Aussies on course for victory after they lost Elyse Villani without scoring to the fourth ball of the innings, bowled by fast bowler Jhulan Goswami trying to work a delivery to leg.

Blackwell strode to the crease and dominated the Indian bowling, striking eight fours in an innings that lasted 49 balls while Nitschke hit 22 from 25 balls.

When the experienced Nitschke fell in the 11th over caught at mid-off with the score on 75 for two, the result was never in doubt as Blackwell added another 28 for the third wicket with Leah Poulton whose 30 needed 26 balls and contained two fours.

Earlier, India wasted a 57-run second wicket partnership as they lost momentum to limp to their eventual total.

They lost Sulakshana Naik (2) to the third ball of the day and the prolific Mithali Raj for 16 in the eighth over at 31 for two as Australia made early inroads.

But Poonam Raut scored 44 from 51 balls and Harmanpreet Kaur stroked 24 from 27 balls to revive the innings.

When Kaur was run out of the first ball of the 17th over at 88 for three, two more wickets fell in the over leaving India on 89 for five, and scrambling for runs with their main batsmen back in the pavilion.